About this Research Topic
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are natural plasma membrane-derived nanoparticles secreted by all cells through various pathways. EVs are lipid bilayer membrane-enclosed vesicles that facilitate intercellular communication. They are highly heterogeneous in size, ranging from approximately 50 nm to over 1 μm, with the vast majority being smaller than 200 nm. These vesicles carry functional proteins, DNA, mRNA, ncRNA, and lipids. Tumor cells produce large amounts of EVs, which differ in cargo composition compared to their healthy counterparts. EVs are implicated in cancer development, delivering factors that regulate tumor progression processes such as cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and chemoresistance. These factors are transferred during cell-to-cell crosstalk within the tumor microenvironment and to cell populations in distant secondary tumor sites. Consequently, EVs are being extensively studied for their potential prognostic and theragnostic roles in various cancers.
But are we really there yet?
This Research Topic aims to delve into recent advances in understanding the role of EVs in the pathophysiology of tumors of neural origin. We welcome original research manuscripts and review articles that seek to reveal the prognostic and diagnostic value of EVs in these tumors. Neural-origin tumors can be highly aggressive, often presenting a dismal prognosis. Utilizing EVs for early tumor detection, progression and recurrence monitoring, and therapy assessment could significantly impact the disease course in cancer patients.
We broadly suggest the following areas of interest, but we also welcome any original ideas on the topic:
- Profiling EV content in healthy individuals versus patients with neural-origin tumors.
- Identifying EV-content signatures with prognostic and/or diagnostic applications, including proteins, DNA, mRNA, ncRNA, and lipids.
- Investigating the role of EVs in tumor progression.
- Advancing EV isolation techniques for prognostic and/or diagnostic applications.
- Addressing challenges and outlining next steps for using EV liquid biopsies in clinical practice.
Loredana Guglielmi works for a private healthcare communications agency, Foundry3. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests.
But are we really there yet?
This Research Topic aims to delve into recent advances in understanding the role of EVs in the pathophysiology of tumors of neural origin. We welcome original research manuscripts and review articles that seek to reveal the prognostic and diagnostic value of EVs in these tumors. Neural-origin tumors can be highly aggressive, often presenting a dismal prognosis. Utilizing EVs for early tumor detection, progression and recurrence monitoring, and therapy assessment could significantly impact the disease course in cancer patients.
We broadly suggest the following areas of interest, but we also welcome any original ideas on the topic:
- Profiling EV content in healthy individuals versus patients with neural-origin tumors.
- Identifying EV-content signatures with prognostic and/or diagnostic applications, including proteins, DNA, mRNA, ncRNA, and lipids.
- Investigating the role of EVs in tumor progression.
- Advancing EV isolation techniques for prognostic and/or diagnostic applications.
- Addressing challenges and outlining next steps for using EV liquid biopsies in clinical practice.
Loredana Guglielmi works for a private healthcare communications agency, Foundry3. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests.
Keywords: Extracellular Vesicles (EVs), Tumor progression, Prognostic and diagnostic value, Neural-origin tumors, Liquid biopsies
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
